Electrical switching device



March 13, 1934. B RICKARD 1,951,209

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1951 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATE PATENT-l OFFICE Application March 20,

1931, Serial N0. 524,180

4 Claims. (01. I'll-97) This invention relates to an electrical switching device for use in connection with electrical illumination, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to for controlling the intensity of light from electric lamps without the employment of resistances, as the latter when used for such purpose causes a direct loss of power. I Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an

electrical switching device for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readily l6 installed in a lighting circuit, conveniently operated and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a front elevation of an on and off switch for lighting circuits and illustrating in connection therewith the controlling element of a switching device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 looking towards one side thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 looking towards the other side of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatical View illustrating the lighting circuit and the adaptation therewith of the switching device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the arrange- 50 ment of the contacts and the intensity of light at diiferent positions of the brushes.

The switching device includes a rotatable controlling element for varying the intensity of light and having associated therewith a plurality of current carrying brushes. The device also includes a latching means for the controlling element. 7

The switching device and an on and off switch can be built as a unit and is so illustrated by way of example. The switching device may be built as an independent unit or when used in connection with or a part or, a table, or floor lamp or other lamp cluster, the device could be built in many forms to adapt itself to the requirements of each particular case. more lamps in a sin le fixture or separate fixtures can be controlled by the switching device and by reference to the diagrammatical view shown by Figure 7 one can readily ascertain how the three intensities of light are obtained. First, all lights burning at full voltage. Second, half the lamps burning at full voltage, or nearest to half with an uneven number of lamps and third, all lamps burnin in two groups in series, that is, half voltage on each lamp or approximately half voltage. This third position gives a dim restful light.

In the drawing, 1 indicates the box or hous- Two or ing of an on and oil switch generally indicated at 2 and which projects outwardly from the front of housing 1 so that it can be easily manipulated when desired. A partition 3 is arranged in the upper portion of housing 1 and which provides a chamber l. An anchoring strip 5 is secured to the front of housing 1 and projects from the bottom and top of the latter for attaching housing to standard outlet box as is customary in the off and on switch now in general use.

One of the power lines or light circuit con- I ductors is indicated at 'l and which leads to a lamp 8. With the brushes in the position as shown in Figure 7, the other power line or light circuit conductor includes sections 9, 10 and 11.

The switch 2 is interposed between the sections 9 and ii). The section 11 leads to lamp 12. The controlling element for the switching device is interposed between the sections as shown in the diagram.

The controlling element comprises a rotatably mounted cylinder 23 provided with five contacts arranged in spaced relation and disposed circumferentially or" the periphery of the cylinder 23. Three of said contacts indicated at 24, 25 are of less length than the circumference of cylinder The other two indicated at 24', 26' extend the full circumference of the cylinder. The contact 24 is of greater length than the length of contact 25, the contacts being slidably engageable with the brushes. Contact 26 must be of such length that there are two spaces at right angles to contact 26 where contact 24 alone is located. The ends of contacts 24, 25, 26 are spaced from each other. The contacts 25, 26 are arranged diametrically opposite. The contact 24 has an opening or break in its circumference of approximately equal length and adjacent to contact 25.

With a quarter turn of cylinder 23 from its position shown in Figure 7 circuit 7 remains the same as above. The other power line or light circuit conductor changes so that it now includes 9, 10, 17 and 18 to lamp 8. With another quarter turn of cylinder 23 one of the power lines or light circuit conductors includes 7, 21 and 11. The section 21 branches oi: from 7 and leads to lamp 12 through section 11. The other power line or light circuit conductor includes sections 9, 10, 17 and 18 to lamps 8 and 12. With another quarter turn of cylinder 23 the sections are arranged the same as in the second position above and further turning of cylinder 23 brings the arrangement of the sections back to the first position as shown in the diagram. It is obvious from the arrangement shown that the fourth position, that is the second medium position, can also be reached by reversing the rotation of the control element to the position desired.

When the switching device is built as a unit with the on and off switch no wire connection is needed between the two as a solid copper connector carried by housing 1 is employed. The section 9 of the sectional power conductors is attached to housing 1 by a connector 13 and which associates with switch 2. A connector 14 is attached to housing 1 for electrically connecting section 21. A connector 15 is attached to housing 1 for electrically connecting section 17 to the controlling element. The conductor 17 leads to a line 18 for connecting the lamps 8 and 12. A connector 16 is attached to housing 1 for electrically connecting the controlling element with section 11. A group of current carrying brushes associate with said contacts. The brushes 35, 36 of said group lead from sections 11, 17 respectively and associate with contacts 24', 26'. The other brushes are indicated at 19, 20 and 22.

The section 10 terminates in a pair of current carrying brushes 19, 20. These are shown on drawing as two brushes but in reality they could be built as one brush sufliciently wide to span both contacts 24 and 25. Extending from c0nductor 7 is a branch conductor 21 which terminates in a current carrying brush 22. Conductors 17 and 11 terminate in current carrying brushes as shown in Figure 7.

The cylinder 23 is carried by a shaft 27 which is rotatably mounted in the back of housing 1 and projects forwardly through the anchoring strap 5 and carries on its outer end a thumb, finger piece or button 28 provided with an indicator 29 to set forth the position of the cylinder 23. Carried by the shaft 27 inwardly of the strap 5 is a cam 34 having four angle-shaped edge parts 30. The shaft 27 extends through chamber 4 and the cylinder 23 and cam 34 is arranged in chamber 4. Anchored at its lower end, as at 31 to the strip 5 is an upstanding latching spring 32, formed with an angle shaped end 33 which seats in an agle shaped edge part of the cam 34 for latching it whereby the cylinder 23 is detachably secured in the position in which it has been set. The shape of the cam 34 provides for four-quarter turns of the cylinder 23 and the spring associates with the cam for latching it in each quarter turn.

The brushes coact with the contacts on cylinder 23 for the purpose of controlling the intensity of light from the lamps. By reference to the diagram shown in Figure 8 it shows the intensity of the light at dififerent positions of the brushes 19, 20 and 22 with respect to the contacts 24, 25, 26.

Contact 24 is arranged in opposed space alignment with contact 26, but the latter is of materially less length than the former. Contact 26 is disposed concentrically relative to contact 24. Contact 25 is arranged between contacts 24 and 26, but near to contact 24. Contact 25 is oppositely disposed with respect to contacts 24 and 26. The ends of contact 25 opposes the ends of contact 24 in sidewise relation. The brush 19 coacts with contact 24, the brush 20 with contact 25 and brush 22 with contact 26. Brushes 19 and 22 simultaneously coact with contacts 24 and 26, but brush 22 will at times be clear of contact 26 while brush 19 engages contact 24. Brush 19 will engage contact 24 simultaneously with the contacting of brush 20 with contact 25, but brush 20 will engage contact 25 when brush 19 is free of engagement with contact 24. The disposition of contact 25 relative to contact 24 provides for the engagement of brushes 19 and 20 with contacts 24, 25 in a manner as just referred to.

With reference to the diagram Figure 8 it will be seen that when brushes 19 and 22 are engaged with contacts 24, 26 a bright light will be had, that when brush 22 passes 011 of contact 26 while brush 19 still engages contact 24 that a medium light will be had and that when brushes 19 and 22 are clear of contacts 24, 26 respectively and brush 20 engages contact 25 that a dim light will be had. The relative positions of the contacts as referred to with respect to the brushes is obtained by rotating cylinder 23 quarter revolutions and that each portion is held due to the latching of the cam 34.

The arrangement of the switch device with respect to the wiring is such that the adjustments of the cylinder will provide all lights burning at full voltage, half the lamps burning at full voltage, or nearest to half with an uneven number of lamps and all lamps burning in two groups in series, that is, half voltage on each lamp or approximately half voltage.

What I claim is:-

l. A system of electrical distribution for lighting purposes comprising a plurality of lamps, means for connecting the lamps in series, a pair of feed line conductors, one being continuous and the other formed of an outer, an inner and an intermediate section, said sections being spaced from each other, said continuous conductor having its outer terminal electrically connected to one of said lamps, said outer section having its outer terminal electrically connected ing from one of the brushes of the second pair and electrically connected to said means intermediate the ends of the latter, the other brush of said second pair being electrically connected to the inner terminal of said outer section, and an operable control element provided with spaced contacts coacting with the respective brushes to form successive circuit connections to said lamps, said connections providing for energization, successively, and Without interruption of the circuit of all lamps in series, a portion of said lamps at line voltage, all lamps at line voltage, and of said lamps at line voltage.

2. A system of electrical distribution for lighting purposes comprising a plurality of lamps, means for connecting the lamps in series, a pair of feed line conductors, one being continuous and the other formed of an outer, an inner and an intermediate section, said sections being spaced from each other, said continuous conductor having its outer terminal electrically connected to one of said lamps, said outer section having its outer terminal electrically connected to another of said lamps, a brush, a circuit connection leading from said brush and electrically connected to and at an intermediate point of said continuous conductor, a pair of spaced brushes electrically connected to the outer ter minal of said intermediate section, a power line controlling element interposed between the inner terminal of said intermediate section and the outer terminal of said inner section, a second pair of spaced brushes, a circuit connection leading from one of the brushes of the second pair and electrically connected to said means intermediate the ends of the latter, the other brush of said second pair being electrically connected to the inner terminal of said outer section, and an operable control element provided with spaced contacts of various circumferential lengths with respect to each other coacting selectively with the respective brushes to form on. the operation of said element several combinations of series and parallel circuits, the said contacts being of such lengths with respect to each other to prevent any interruption in the light when changing from one selective position to another and capable of being turned on or on at any light position.

3. A system of electrical distribution for lighting purposes comprising a plurality of lamps, an intermediate connecting point common toterminals of the lamps, supply terminals for receiving current connected respectively to the other terminals of the lamps, a power line having a lamp control switch therein, a four-position rotary control element electrically connected between said switch and lamps and comprising two short contacts diametrically opposite, a long contact with an opening in its circumference of approximately equal length and adjacent to one of said short contacts and two current completing contacts, a set or" brushes selectively coacting with said contacts, and means for interconnecting the terminals of the lamps, brushes and power line to provide on the operation of said element for energization, successively and without interruption of the circuit of all lamps in series, a portion of said lamps at line voltage, all lamps at line voltage, and a portion of said lamps at line voltage.

4. In a system for controlling two translating devices having a common intermediate connecting point, two outer connecting terminals and a pair of feed line conductors, one being permanently connected to one of said outer connecting terminals; a power line control switch interposed in one of said conductors, a control element electrically interconnected between and to said switch and translating devices and including a series of stationary and a series of movable contacts coacting with the stationary contacts, and means for rotating one series of contacts to adjustably change the positions of the contacts of such series relative to the contacts of the said other series whereby in one position said permanently connected conductor is also connected to the remaining outer connecting terminal of said translating devices and the other of said feed line conductors is connected to said intermediate connecting point, in the second position the connection to the intermediate point remains the same and the connection to the outer connecting terminal is opened, in the third position the connection to the intermediate point made in the previous position is shifted to the remaining outer connecting terminal, the connecion to the intermediate point being opened, in the fourth position the connections being the same as in the second position, said connections providing for energiaation successively and without interruption of the circuit of both translating devices at line voltage, one of said translating devices at line voltage, both translating devices in series and one or" said translating devices at line voltage.

EVERETT B. RICKARD. 

